Texas Approves Massive Wind Power Project

New Transmission Lines Will Bring Power From Windy West Texas To Urban Areas

(AP)  Texas officials gave preliminary approval Thursday to the nation's largest wind-power project, a plan to build billions of dollars worth of new transmission lines to bring wind energy from gusty West Texas to urban areas.

Texas is already the national leader in wind power, and supporters say Thursday's move by the Public Utility Commission will make the Lone Star State a leader in moving energy to the urban areas that consume it.

"We will add more wind than the 14 states following Texas combined," said PUC Commissioner Paul Hudson. "I think that's a very extraordinary achievement. Some think we haven't gone far enough, some think we've pushed too far."

Environmentalist and consumer groups called the move a critical expansion of the "renewable energy superhighway," predicting it will spur wind energy projects, create jobs, reduce energy costs and reduce pollution.

Texas electric customers will bear the cost of the $4.9 billion plan over the next several years, paying about $4 more per month on their electric bills, according to Tom Smith, director of the Texas office of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen.

State officials, however, say those increases could be several years away, and the payments would be no different than the current system of paying for new transmission lines from power plants.

The 2-1 vote by the PUC, however, didn't commit to as large a project as some environmental groups and state lawmakers had wanted. The plan would transmit a little more than half the energy some advocated.

Texas already generates about 5,000 megawatts of wind power, more than any other state. The new plan would add transmission lines to boost capacity to about 18,000 megawatts.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas says one megawatt of power provides enough electricity for 500 to 700 average homes under normal conditions in Texas, or about 200 homes during hot weather.

"The capacity for wind generation in west and north Texas is so great that we could position ourselves in Texas to be the world leader in wind and renewable energy in the next 100 years, just as we were the world leader in oil and gas for the past 100 years," Democratic state Rep. Mark Strama said earlier this week.

[alphaa10-2009]

The Texas wind project is already paying for itself, as energy costs run out of control from market speculation.

Because wind power generation efficiency has leaped forward over the past decades, wind energy plant costs remain stable despite scaling of capacity. Investment costs are comparatively lower than for any other power source except, perhaps, solar.

With inherently unstable global politics to provide speculators a new rationale for raising prices, a paltry $4 monthly on each Texas household''s energy bill will seem a good investment.

For all the publicity about wind energy, however, note how little Bush leadership from the federal level is involved. This poses a stark contrast to his record as Texas governor, when he backed wind power.

After Bush entered office in 2001, running on Big Oil money, gas was $1.00 per gallon. After creating chaos in the MidEast with his fraudulent invasion of Iraq-- all to capture Iraq as a source of profits for the oil lobby-- gas is now over $5.00 per gallon.

Big Oil now has the best of both worlds-- more gas to sell, and at any price it wishes.

[bdrlnt4rl]

now is the time for wind and solar power! the best all the way around! best of all, there are no oil spills that kills thousands of wildlife at one time. clean and environmentally friendly. the best.

[soloman6]

When would be the time for NEVADA and ARIZONA approve SOLAR POWER????

[aerhed]

Wind works great! Go, Go, Go. Know what else works good, has less impact and much lower maintenance? Solar panels! They don''t make a sound, pump juice, and the grass grows better under them! I bet once we quit burning fossils the cancer rate drops too.

[walt1944-2009]

I has been announced that Texas will embark on a massive project to harness wind power to generate electricity.

It has been determined that much of the wind will be coming from the town of Crawford Texas, especially in the area near the Great Emperor''s ranch. It is believed that since the Great Emperor will be spending more time at his ranch beginning next year, that "hot air" gusts will increase dramatically from that location, especially when the Great Emperor entertains his "favorites", Karl Rove, John Boltun, VP Darth Vader Cheney, and Alberto "The Great Gonzo" Gonzales.

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!!
sig heil, MORE HOT AIR FROM ARIZONA, McCain!!!!!

[oneamerican-]

"makes sense - Texas - like the politicians it spawns- is the cornerstone of hot air and windbags"

Posted by nokoolaid at 11:37 AM : Jul 18, 2008


You must be Don Quixote - jousting windmills again.

[oneamerican-]

"makes sense - Texas - like the politicians it spawns- is the cornerstone of hot air and windbags"

Posted by nokoolaid at 11:37 AM : Jul 18, 2008


You must be Don Quixote - jousting windmills again.

[johnsole1]

"The 2-1 vote by the PUC, however, didn''t commit to as large a project as some environmental groups and state lawmakers had wanted. The plan would transmit a little more than half the energy some advocated."

The PUC "Public Usery Commission" always votes to raise the rates we pay for power when the big enery providers ask, but when it comes to energy conservation, they can''t commit 100%. Go figure. There are tons of windmills in west Texas out by Lubbock, and I''d rather look at them that at oil and gas rigs.

[bdrlnt4rl]

Well, the windmill farm companies pay big giant bucks to put the windmills on someones property. I happen to have a friend who the windmills approached him and want to put 30 windmills on his property and pay him 3k a year, per windmill!!!... you do the math and tell me who wins. the land owner, the community, the environment, basically, AMERICA! wake up people.

[bustamcnutty]

So Sorry dude, I guess I should have specified your wife. You must be from texass, right?
aaaw dude should of guessed you where stoned and stupid.that explains the lack of meaningful words.

[darnedsocks]

THIS IS AN ALL-AROUND POSITIVE MOVE; HOWEVER, IT IS VERY PAINFUL FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE TO PAY THOUSANDS MORE IN DAILY EXPENSES (DUE TO THE HIGH PRICE OF OIL)TO FUND THESE PROJECTS.

[six-six-seis]

This is so awesome,
I have seen these massive turbines and blades going down the highway for years,
and theres an impressive array of them around Ozona.
Glad Texas is doing something about the future needs of Power consumption,
Especially after a few years when most vewhicles will require a good jold overnight.

[gunfighter51]

We used to have 2 windmills in our fine city, but for some strange reason, they vanished. I guess they could''nt a get a big enough subsidy.

Don''t forget who''s behind this push, a former BIG OIL man, looking for that BIG GOVERNMENT handout.

[bdrlnt4rl]

AMERICA WINS WITH WINDMILLS

[bdrlnt4rl]

that is 3k a year per windmill......30 windmills.....do the math.

[bdrlnt4rl]

Well, the windmill farm companies pay big giant bucks to put the windmills on someones property. I happen to have a friend who the windmills approached him and want to put 30 windmills on his property and pay him 3k a year. you do the math and tell me that wrong. who wins. the land owner, the community, the environment, basically, AMERICA! wake up people.

[alpine42]

Now I suppose these radical ENVIROMENTAL FREAKS, will be opposed against that too! These sickos are already costing us plenty with the high gas prices. Thanks freaks!!!!!! Posted by fervan at 08:04 PM : Jul 17, 2008

Yeah Fervan, Maybe you should leave the US and live in that polluted cess pool, Russia. Where they have never had any enviromental laws. Acid rain, uncontained nuclear waste, no exhaust restrictions. Then tell me we have made it worse for you.

[cyberus-2009]

----
Now I suppose these radical ENVIROMENTAL FREAKS, will be opposed against that too! These sickos are already costing us plenty with the high gas prices. Thanks freaks!!!!!!

Posted by fervan
----
Give the devil his due .. it ain''t just the environmentalists ... Sen Kennedy helped put a stop to windmills in his back yard, just like the people that move into "wilderness" areas then try to block "development" of the area .. now that they have their spot.
Not in my backyard is the reason for most worthwhile projects like this from going forward.
And as far as environmental effects (ie birdkill) vertical axis windmills may not be as efficient as the standard kind but you can fit more in the same area.

[bdrlnt4rl]

man some people cry alternative fuel, you give a solution that works, they cry about that. people cry gas cost too much we need to be independent from the middle east, a solution is present to bring back jobs and money to the states and they cry about that. grow up idiots and keep america busisness in america and the windmills up.

i live in the middle of windmill country and it has brought an old dying town back to life with more money going thru our town than one can ever imagine, jobs and money are rolling thru this old town! not to mention money rebuilding new state of the art schools!

windmills all the way!

[dovestar]

Need wind power? The world''s largest deposit of hot air is at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Inependence Avenue in Washington, also known as Capitol Hill, home to the US Congress. If we could harness THAT, we could kiss the oil barons good-bye!